Loose material feeder



Sept. 4, 1962 K. D. SCHREYER 3,052,343

LOOSE MATERIAL FEEDER Filed April 20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, 1962 K. D. SCHREYER LOOSE MATERIAL FEEDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1960 INVENTOR. KENNETH 0. SCHREYER BY: @M,M,@6% @w,

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3,h52,343 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 tic 3,052,343 LOOSE MATERlAL FEEDER Kenneth D. Schreyer, Eggertsville, N.Y., assignor to Coiumbus McKinnon Corporation, Tonawanda, NY. Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,444 6 Claims. (Cl. 198164) This invention relates to machinery for use in connection with the mining of coal or the like; and more particularly to a novel feeder" adapted to receive from shuttle cars or the like batch loads of mined coal, ore, rock, or other lump or granular materials, to deliver the material at a reduced and substantially constant rate, such as to the mine panel conveyor, elevator, or other handling equipment. The invention relates generally to the type machine disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 743,863 filed June 23, 1958.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a machine as aforesaid which embodies in a novel combination, a plurality of conveying components, whereby to receive intermittent loadings from batch conveyances or the like so as to promptly release such conveyances for return trips; and to convert the flow of feed material to a substantially constant rate for delivery to the receiving equipment, such as a conveyor or elevator or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feeder as aforesaid which requires less head room and is therefore particularly suited for example to low coal seam mining conditions.

Still another object is to provide a novel feeder as aforesaid which is compact and rugged and simple in construction and readily portable, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specifications hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale fragmentary side elevational view thereof, as indicated at 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged scale longitudinal sectional view thereof, as indicated at ll i l of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the discharge end of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged scale sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-Vl of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged scale sectional view taken along line VH--Vll of FIG. 5.

As illustrated, the invention comprises a feeder for coal or the like, in the form of a readily portable unitized machine comprising essentially a plan-view tapering bed plate traversed by a plurality of scraper conveyors, each comprising an endless chain device running around horizontally disposed sprocket wheels or sprockets and carrying laterally extending scraper arms; the mutually adja cent strands of said chain devices being driven to run in the same general direction but being relatively convergent and moving toward the apex end of the apron. Hence, when batch loads of feed material are dumped upon the broad end of the bed plate the material is gathered and funneled by the converging conveyor flights into the form of a uniform, reduced rate, delivery flow from the apex or discharge end of the machine to the mine panel conveyor belt, or the like as indicated at 8 (FIG. 2).

More specifically, the machine may be constructed, as shown herein, to comprise a bed-plate 16 supported upon a keel portion formed of a pair of I beams 12, 14, which are suitably interconnected and subtended at their opposite sides by laterally extending I beams 15. As

shown in FIG. 1 the bed plate and support structure is of tapering form in plan view; being substantially wider at the material intake end portion of the machine compared to the discharge end portion thereof. The bed plate 10 is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the desired number of convergent conveyor components; two such conveyors being shown in the example illustrated herein. Each conveyor comprises an endless chain 16 training around corresponding head and foot sprocket wheels 18- 20 respectively, which are mounted to rotate about vertical axes. Each head sprocket wheel of each conveyor is power driven to cause the two innermost legs of the conveyor chains to run from the intake end of the machine towards the discharge end thereof.

As shown in the drawing, the chains 16-16 are of the welded link type, being thereby freely flexible in two directions; occasional of the links benig provided with integral support pads 26 (FIGS. 5, 6) to which are bolted by mounting bolts 2828 the elbow portions of boomerang-shaped scraper flight members 36. Thus, the chains 16-16 and 30 ride on the bed plate 10; the flights 39 being positioned on the chains so as to relatively mesh without interference as their carrying chains train around the relatively closely spaced head sprocket wheels 1818. The sprocket wheels at the foot end of the machine are carried by shafts suitably journalled on the machine as by hearing blocks 32 which are positionally adjustable on the machine frame for chain slack take-up purposes.

The sprocket wheels 18i8 at the discharge end of the machine are carried by drive shafts which are driven through gear boxes 56 by means of speed reducers 54 which are driven from a common motor 55 conveniently mounted within the confines of a pair of skids 56 disposed to extend beneath the keel beams 12, 14 at the discharge end portion of the machine. Thus, the machine may be readily coupled to a tractor or the like to cause it to skid and swivel upon the skid members 56, thereby facilitating dragging of the machine from work place to work place.

As illustrated herein, sloping sheet metal hopper sides 60-69 are provided at opposite sides of the machine, to retain the coal or other feed material in gravity-feeding relation to the scraper conveyor components. Just ahead of the discharge end of the machine a pair of substantially vertically standing choke plates 62i62 are provided to meter the discharge flow of material from the feeder at the desired rate.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, the bottom edges of the hopper plates 60 are held in elevated relation to the bed plate 16 as by means of angle brackets 6464, whereby the bottom edges of the hopper plates overhang the conveyor chains while leaving the flights 30 exposed therebetween. Guide channels as indicated at 66-66 are preferably provided to directionally stabilize the chains 16 as they travel, and an apron 68 (FIG. 6) is provided to keep the coal confined between the hopper plates. A material discharge chute is provided in the form of a flat sloping plate 7 t} at the discharge end of the machine for delivering the conveyed material to a take-away device, such as any suitable vehicle or conveyor as indicated at 8, or the like. Vertically standing ribs 72 are conveniently provided to extend lengthwise of the chute 79 to vertically support the conveyor flights 30 as they turn around the head sprockets. The hopper walls 60 60 are conveniently braced by means of upstanding struts as shown at 74, based upon the laterally extending beams 15 and tied to the top edges of the hopper plates as by welding or the like.

It will be appreciated that by virtue of the arrangement of the invention, as the conveyor chains are driven to operate they carry along with them the boomerangshaped flight devices in such manner that one arm of each flight member extends laterally in horizontal direction from its carrying chain and scrapes along the top surface of the bed plate It The flights traveling from the intake end toward the delivery end of the feeder extend into the open space between the bottom edges of the hopper plates 6t)6tl, and are dimensioned so as to cooperate to extend across this open space, whereby the flights engage the material to be displaced and slide it forwardly. As the flights approach the front end of the machine they intermesh; being for this purpose appropriately mounted on the conveyor chains ll-l6 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the "working flights act to integrate batch loadings such as may be dumped in relatively widespread manner upon the intake end portion of the feeder, and deliver the material to the discharge chute 70 at a substantially constant rate of discharge.

The flights extending from the return strands of the conveyor chains travel rearwardly under the hopper plates 6fl6tl; whereby they are shielded from any material loadings. The arrangement for rotation of the chain sprocket wheels about vertical axes requires minimum head room, and is therefore particularly suitable for use in machines designed for work in connection with low seam coal mining operations, or the like. Note that the entire vertical height of the conveyor components is encompassed within the space between the bed plate ltl and the bottom edges of the hopper plates 69-60. The nonworking arm portions of the flight members extend rearwardly in each case and pressure-bear at their rear ends 76 against shoulders 78 (FIG. extending from the next following flight member; thus stabilizing the flights against undesirable deflections from working attitudes under varying load conditions. It is another important feature of the arrangement of the invention that it requires the provision of no slots through the bed plate, such as would be required if the conveyor chains were arranged to train about sheaves rotating about horizontal axes. Hence there are no openings through the bed plate such as would allow the passage of fine materials.

It will of course be appreciated that although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A loose material feeder for receiving irregular loadings of material and delivering the same at a substantially uniform rate of discharge, said feeder comprising a material-supporting bed plate tapering in plan view from a relatively broad material receiving end portion to a relatively narrow discharge end, a pair of horizontally spaced scraper conveyors riding upon said bed plate and each comprising an endless chain training around sprocket Wheels at the receiving end and at the discharge end of the machine, said sprocket wheels being mounted to rotate about vertical axes with the sprocket wheels at the discharge end of the bed plate being disposed closer to gether than the sprocket wheels at the receiving end of the bed plate, said chains carrying at intervals therealong pluralities of scraper conveyor flight members, each flight member being of boomerang-shape and connected to a link of its chain at the elbow portion of said flight member in such manner that one arm of the latter extends laterally and horizontally from said chain in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate while the other arm of said flight member extends rearwardly along said chain into pressure-bearing relation with the next following flight member, hopper wall members mounted above said bed plate said wall members being disposed in horizontally spaced relation and being inwardly sloping with their bottom edges extending in generally longitudinally convergent relation from the receiving to the discharge end of the machine and overlying said conveyor chains while providing an open space therebetween commensurate with the bed plate area occupied by the working flights of said conveyors, said conveyors being relatively arranged so that the working flights thereof intermesh as they approach the discharge end of said machine, and choke plate means disposed adjacent the discharge end of said bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

2. A loose material feeder for receiving irregular loadings of material and delivering the same at a substantially uniform rate of discharge, said feeder comprising a bed plate tapering in plan view from a relatively broad material receiving end portion to a relatively narrow discharge end, a plurality of scraper conveyors riding upon said bed plate and each comprising an endless chain training around sprocket wheels at the receiving end and at the discharge end of the machine, said chains carrying therewith at intervals therealong pluralities of scraper conveyor flight members each connected to a link of its chain in such manner that the flights extend laterally and horizontally from said chains in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate, hopper wall members mounted above said bed plate and overlying said conveyor chains, said wall members having inner edge portions providing an open space therebetween commensurate with the bed plate area occupied by the working flights of said conveyors, the return flights of said conveyors being shrouded by said hopper wall members, said conveyors being relatively arranged so that the working flights thereof intermesh as they approach the discharge end of said machine and choke plate means adjacent the discharge end of said bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

3. A loose material feeder for receiving irregular loadings of material and delivering the same at leveled out rate, said feeder comprising a bed plate, a plurality of scraper conveyors disposed to rest upon said bed plate and each comprising an endless chain training around sprocket wheels at the ends of the machine, said chains carrying therewith at intervals therealong pluralities of scraper conveyor flight members each connected to a link of its chain in such manner that said flights extend laterally and horizontally from said chains in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate, hopper wall members mounted above said bed plate in vertically spaced relation thereto and overlying said conveyor chains, said wall members having inner edge portions providing an open space therebetween commensurate with the bed plate area occupied by the working flights of said conveyors, said conveyors being relatively arranged so that the working flights thereof intermesh as they approach the discharge end of said machine and choke plate means adjacent the discharge end of said bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

4. A loose material feeder for receiving irregular loadings of material and delivering the same at a leveled out rate, said feeder comprising a bed plate tapering in plan view from a relatively broad material receiving end portion to a relatively narrow discharge end, a pair of scraper conveyors disposed to ride upon said bed plate and each comprising an endless chain training around horizontal sprocket wheels at the opposite ends of the machine, said chains carrying therewith at intervals therealong pluralities of scraper conveyor flight members connected to its chain in such manner as to extend laterally and horizontally from said chain in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate, vertically sloping hopper wall members mounted above said bed plate and overlying said conveyor chains, said wall members having inner edge portions providing an open space therebetween commensurate with the bed plate area occupied by the working flights of said conveyors while the return flights of said conveyors run beneath said sloping hopper wall members and choke plate means adjacent the discharge end of said bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

5. A loose material feeder for receiving batch loadings of material and delivering the same at a substantially uniform rate of discharge, said feeder comprising a bed plate tapering in plan view from a relatively broad material receiving end portion to a relatively narrow discharge end, a plurality of scraper conveyors disposed to ride upon said bed plate and each comprising an endless chain training around horizontal sprocket wheels at the opposite ends of the machine, said chains carrying therewith at intervals therealong pluralities of scraper conveyor flight members each connected to a link of its chain in such matter as to extend laterally and horizontally from said chain in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate, hopper wall means mounted above said bed plate in vertically spaced relation thereto and overlying said conveyor chains while providing a material handling space therebetween, said hopper wall means presenting a restricted passage adjacent said discharge end or" the bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

6. A loose material feeder comprising a mobile machine unit for receiving irregular loadings of material and delivering the same at a substantially uniform rate of discharge, said feeder comprising a bed plate tapering in plan View, a pair of scraper conveyors disposed to rest upon said bed plate in converging relation and each comprising an endless chain training around horizontal sprocket wheels at the opposite ends of the machine,

said chains carrying therewith at intervals therealong 2 to said chains in such manner as to extend laterally and horizontally from said chains in slide-scraping relation upon said bed plate to deliver material to a common discharge, sloping hopper wall members mounted above said bed plate in vertically spaced relation thereto and having their bottom edges extending generally longitudinally of the machine and overlying said conveyor chains while providing an open space therehetween commensurate with the bed plate area occupied by the working flights of said conveyors while the return flights thereof run under said hopper walls, said conveyors being relatively arranged so that the working flights thereof intermesh as they approach the discharge end of said machine, and choke plates extending inwardly from said Wall members adjacent the discharge end of said bed plate to meter the discharge flow of material therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,914 McKenna Feb. 3, 1920 1,493,382 Priem May 6, 1924 2,118,205 Klone May 24, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,870 reat Britain Oct. 20, 1927 

